DOOMDOOMA, June 30 - The Forest Department, in a joint operation with the Assam Police, arrested one Mumtaz Siddiqui from Bor-hapjan under the Doomdooma Police Station yesterday for his involvement in the smuggling of elephants from Assam to other States.
Recently, 12 elephants were illegally supplied from the Charaipung Reserve Forest to other States. This landed Siddiqui in the Forest Department net.
According to reports, Siddiqui and his associates used to catch elephants from various forests of upper Assam and supplied them to other States by preparing false documents of domesticated elephants. It is alleged that a section of dishonest forest officials are also involved in this illegal trade.
It is also alleged that his son Imran Siddiqui, who contested the 2016 Assembly election from Digboi LAC as a candidate of the Bharat Vikash Morcha, is involved in this illegal trade as well. The Forest Department has registered a case against Mumtaz Siddiqui under Section 9/ 39, 48 (A), 49 (A), 49 (B), 51, 52 of the Wildlife Act. Police also registered a separate case against him.
